Census of Population 2016 Open competition for appointment to the position of: Temporary Part-Time Census Enumerator INFORMATION BOOKLET FOR CANDIDATES Candidates are requested to carefully study this information booklet before completing the on-line application form. The CSO is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the principles of good recruiting practice. 1
Note: This competition, and any offer of appointment arising therefrom is governed by the terms of article 39(4) (formerly Article 48(4)) of the EC Treaty as interpreted by the European Court of Justice. Citizens of non-eea states will not be eligible to compete. The European Economic Area consists of the member states of the European Union along with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Background to the Central Statistics Office The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is an independent statutory body under the aegis of the Taoiseach, which is responsible for the compilation and dissemination of official Irish statistics. The function of the CSO is to meet the statistical requirements of the government, EU, business, researchers and the general public. At present, the Office has a core staff of over 700 office-based staff and 150 permanent field staff. A Census of Population will be held on Sunday 24 th April 2016. A large force of temporary field personnel will be recruited to conduct the census enumeration. For census purposes, the country will be divided into 44 designated regions each comprising some 10 field districts. The field force structure will be as follows: 6 Census Liaison Officers 44 Regional Supervisors 430 Field Supervisors Approximately 4,700 Enumerators Vacancy The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is holding a competition to recruit approximately 4,700 Census Enumerators (based in their own homes). Successful candidates may be offered fixed purpose contracts commencing on 21 March 2016 for a period not exceeding 10 weeks. Age Limit As appointments from this competition will be subject to the Public Service Pension (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 whereby members of the scheme must retire at 70, persons who are aged 70 years or over, or who will reach this age before the end of the contract, will not be considered. Application Applications will be taken only through the CSO website www.cso.ie/census from Tuesday 5 January 2016 and the competition will close at 5.00pm on Friday 8 January 2016. For operational reasons, the number of on-line applications that will be accepted for this competition will be limited to 15,000 with regional quotas being applied. 2
Eligibility to compete and certain restrictions on eligibility Candidates should note that eligibility to compete is open to citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union along with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Citizens of non-european Economic Area (EEA) States are not eligible to compete. Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform letter dated 28th June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 1st June 2012, a Collective Agreement which had been reached between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Services Committee of the ICTU in relation to ex-gratia Redundancy Payments to Public Servants. It is a condition of the Collective Agreement that persons availing of the agreement will not be eligible for re-employment in the public service by any public service body (as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 2011) for a period of 2 years from termination of the employment. Thereafter the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will be required prior to re-employment. People who availed of this scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility) and the Minister s consent will have to be secured prior to employment by any public service body. Civil Service Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) (Department of Finance Circular 12/09) It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees, under that Scheme, are debarred from applying for another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position. Department of Health and Children Circular (7/2010) The Department of Health and Children Circular 7/2010 dated 1 November 2010 introduced a Targeted Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Scheme and Voluntary Redundancy Schemes (VRS). It is a condition of the VER scheme that persons availing of the scheme will not be eligible for re-employment in the public health sector or in the wider public service or in a body wholly or mainly funded from public moneys. The same prohibition on re-employment applies under the VRS, except that the prohibition is for a period of 7 years, after which time any re-employment will require the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. People who availed of either of these schemes are not eligible to compete in this competition. Department of Environment, Community & Local Government (Circular Letter LG(P) 06/2013) The Department of Environment, Community & Local Government Circular Letter LG(P) 06/2013 introduced a Voluntary Redundancy Scheme for Local Authorities. In accordance with the terms of the Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants dated 28 June 2012 as detailed above, it is a specific condition of that VER Scheme that persons will not be eligible for re-employment in any Public Service body [as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 2011 and the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012] for a period of 2 years from their date of departure under this Scheme. Thereafter, the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will be required prior to re-employment. These conditions also apply in the case of engagement/employment on a contract for service basis (either as a contractor or as an employee of a contractor). 3
Declaration Applicants will be required to declare whether they have previously availed of a public service scheme of incentivised early retirement and/or the collective agreement outlined above. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Public Service employment and/or where they have received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment. Personal specification 1. Essential: To be eligible for consideration, candidates must: be prepared to devote, typically 22 hours per week, mainly in the evenings/weekends, to census duties (including training) for a period of 10 weeks from 21 March to 27 May 2016; (in rural areas) hold a current, full driving licence and have the full-time use of a motor car for the period of employment (this is not a requirement for urban areas); have the ability to understand and execute detailed instructions issued by the Central Statistics Office; have good command of English, both written and oral; provide secure and confidential storage in their home for all census material and equipment for their enumeration area (see Paragraph 6 under the Principle conditions of employment of Temporary Census Enumerators); be a citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA) 2. Desirable: Candidates should have a good general education; experience in dealing with the public; (in Gaeltacht areas), have a working knowledge of Irish; and some survey, market research or practical social work experience. Applications from persons of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds, or from those with experience of working with diverse groups, are welcome. 4
Job Specification Temporary Census Enumerator (Part-Time) Headquarters: Own home Reporting to: Field Supervisor Duties General The enumeration of all dwellings, households and persons within the enumeration area for which you are responsible and the summarisation of this data. Number employed in this position: 4,700 (approx.) Duties Particular 1. Attend training courses given by Field Supervisor 2. Study carefully and understand the contents of the enumerators manual 3. Make a comprehensive visual survey of the assigned enumeration area, make contact with all householders and deliver Census forms to all occupied dwellings 4. This will entail: familiarisation in advance with the enumeration map and Enumeration Record Book (ERB) visiting all dwellings marked on the map and doing a full visual check to identify any unlisted dwellings annotating and updating the EA map and record book with any new dwellings distributing the Census forms, explaining the Census and arranging (where possible) a date and time for their collection. documenting the form delivery in the Enumerator Record Book Making a daily return of progress to CSO using a mobile phone 5. Collecting the Census Forms This will entail: Studying and becoming thoroughly familiar with the questions on the Census form Calling back repeatedly to dwellings until a completed form has been collected from all dwellings that were occupied on Census Night. Examining the completed Census form at the doorstep (and where incomplete, asking further questions to complete the form) Making a daily return of progress to CSO using a mobile phone 6. Summarising Census returns and returning summary data by post 7. Preparing weekly work returns (indicating progress to date) 8. Meeting all applicable deadlines and ensuring that all occupied households in their area complete and return a census form. Relationships: The Enumerator will be accountable to a Field Supervisor and will be required to keep him /her fully informed of work progress. The Enumerator will be in close contact with the public and it is essential that he/she should display the personal qualities of tact, trustworthiness, confidentiality and courtesy. 5
Principal Conditions of Employment as Temporary Census Enumerator General 1. The appointment is subject to the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 to 2005, the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004, and any other Act for the time being in force relating to employment in the Civil Service. Pay 2. Remuneration will be on a fee/allowance basis as follows Training 200.00 Total for each household enumerated of which; (a) Not listed on Geo Directory 2.10 (b) Form E ( Initiated by Enumerator) 2.10 (c) Form E (Received by Enumerator) 2.10 (d) Reconciliation Form 1.10 (e) Occupied Reconciliation Form 2.00 (f) Completed Census Form (Full Household) 3.70 Summarisation 230.00 Terminal Payment (on satisfactory completion of all assigned duties) 445.00 Sunday and Public Holiday Allowance 210.00 Home Storage Allowance 140.00 Travel Allowance (see Paragraph 5 below) Variable Fees payable for communal establishments with up to 10 residents will be as for private households. For larger communal establishments, an additional fee of 3.50 will be payable for every 10 persons in excess of the first 10 enumerated. Sunday and Public Holiday Allowance 3. It is envisaged that during the course of the census enumeration that enumerators will be required to work on a flexible basis and this may mean working on some Sundays and Public Holidays in order to carry out their duties. In recognition of this work requirement an additional once off allowance of 210.00 will be paid. This payment is in the nature of pay and is reckonable for pension purposes. Once the conditions for this payment are met, the payment will be made on a lump sum basis at the end of the contract period. Terminal Payment 4. A terminal payment of 445.00 may also be paid at the end of the contract period to those Census Enumerators who continue in employment until his/her services are no longer required and who satisfy the following criteria: 6
the Census is completed satisfactorily for the area for which the officer had responsibility, specified deadlines have been met for the completion of each part of the census enumeration in the enumeration area for which the officer has responsibility, the officer has performed his/her duties in a satisfactory manner, the officer has displayed good time management skills and adhered to the travel guidelines, the officer has been satisfactory in general conduct. Under no circumstances will a terminal payment in excess of 445.00 be paid. Should an officers appointment be terminated before all assigned duties have been completed, fees and allowances due (if any) will be assessed by the Central Statistics Office on the basis of its estimate of the proportion of the total work the officer has satisfactorily completed. No terminal payment will be payable in any such case. The rate of remuneration may be adjusted in advance of appointment in line with Government pay policy. Travel Allowance 5. A separate pre-determined travel allowance is payable for each enumeration area. The amount of the allowance has been calculated by the Central Statistics Office on the basis of its estimate of the necessary travel within the enumeration area for the purposes of the Census of Population 2016. Should an officer fail to complete all assigned duties, the amount payable will be recalculated by the Central Statistics Office on the basis of its estimate of the proportion of the work that has been satisfactorily completed. Home Storage Allowance 6. One allowance of 140.00 is payable as a lump sum at the end of the contract term for the provision of safe and secure storage in the officers own home for all the Census of Population 2016 documentation. This payment may be made once the following criteria are met the officer must provide secure and confidential storage in their own home for all Census material and equipment, only persons who are Officers of Statistics for census purposes may have access to this material, the accommodation and other facilities provided by the officer are suitable from the point of view of the safety of the official property kept and the satisfactory conduct of official business. Weekly Advance 7. Gross fees, allowances and bonus (if any) due will be calculated when all duties have been satisfactorily completed. A weekly advance of 100.00 net (payable weekly in arrears and deductible from the final net amounts due) will be made in the interim. 7
Tenure 8. The appointment is to a temporary, part-time non-established position in the Civil Service. It carries no entitlement to established status, by way of limited competition or otherwise. The appointment may be terminated at any time by either side in accordance with the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts, 1973 to 2005. In accordance with the Protection of Employees (Fixed Term Work) Act, 2003, the contract is on a fixed purpose contract basis only on the following grounds. This appointment will commence from 21 March 2016 and will be to conduct the census 2016 enumeration in an assigned area. This appointment will terminate when all assigned duties have been completed but in any event no later than 27 May 2016. The Central Statistics Office reserves the right to terminate the officer s employment prior to the date of cessation on giving of the appropriate notice set down in the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts, 1973 to 2005. The Central Statistics Office also reserves the right to terminate the officer s employment for stated reasons. In the event of unsatisfactory performance of duty, the appointment may be terminated by notification in writing one week prior to the proposed date of termination. In the event of serious misconduct the appointment may be terminated without notice. In the event of the appointment being terminated under the terms of the above paragraphs, no remuneration or compensation will be payable other than that applicable to work carried out and no bonus of any amount will be payable. This position will be subject to satisfactory completion of a probationary period of 2 weeks on commencement of the contract. During the period of probation, the officer s performance will be subject to review by Census Management to determine whether he/she: (i) has performed the duties outlined above in a satisfactory manner, (ii) has displayed good time management skills and adhered to the travel guidelines, (iii) has been satisfactory in general conduct, and (iv) is suitable from the point of view of health with particular regard to sick leave. Census Management will explain the detail of the probationary process to the officer. Census Management will also carry out an end-of-contract assessment of the officer s performance. Unfair Dismissals Acts, 1977-2015 9. The Unfair Dismissals Acts, 1977-2015 will not apply to the termination of an officer s employment by reason only of the expiry of this fixed purpose contract without it being renewed. 8
Duties 10. The officer will be required to perform any duties which may be assigned to them from time to time as appropriate to the position of Census Enumerator by direction of the Director General of the Central Statistics Office. In particular, an officer will be required to study and apply the instructions precisely as outlined in the Enumerator s Manual. An officer will be required to attend any training/briefing courses deemed necessary and to become familiar with the instruction documentation provided. Hours of Attendance 11. Census Enumerators have flexibility to arrange their own weekly working hours. However, working times must facilitate making contact with households to deliver/collect the census forms by the set target dates. Based on previous experience, typically 22 hours per week, mainly in the evenings and at weekends, is necessary. This working pattern has been taken into account in determining the fees/allowances payable. An officer will be obliged to keep a record of the hours worked and forward these records on a weekly basis to the CSO. Use of Car 12. If an officer is required to use a car for his/her official duties he/she must hold a current, full driving licence and have the full-time use of a car during the period of employment. The onus will be on officer to satisfy themselves by consulting their insurance company that their existing motor policy covers their driving whilst employed on census duties. Officers who are required to pay higher premiums to effect insurance cover for their own cars because they necessarily carry goods or equipment while travelling on official business may be recouped, on the production of the necessary receipts, and a letter from the insurance company detailing the reason for the extra expenditure involved. Prior to using their car for official purposes a form of undertaking will have to be signed by the Census Enumerator. This form will be issued by the CSO. When travelling by car on official duties it is not permissible to carry passengers who are not census personnel or to be driven by another person who is not employed on this survey. In the event that the officer becomes unable to comply with the provisions of the paragraph above, his/her appointment will terminate automatically. Annual Leave 13. The granting of annual leave will be at the discretion of the Director General of the Central Statistics Office and will be subject to the exigencies of the work requirements. The holiday allowance, which is subject to the usual conditions regarding the granting of annual leave, is subject to the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997. Remuneration for any untaken holiday leave will be made at the end of the contract term. 9
Superannuation and Retirement 14. Successful candidates will be offered the appropriate superannuation terms and conditions as prevailing in the Civil Service at the time of being offered an appointment. In general, and except for candidates who have worked in a pensionable (non-single scheme terms) public service job in the 26 weeks prior to appointment (see section titled Prior Public Servants below), this means being offered appointment based on membership of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme ( Single Scheme ). Key provisions attaching to membership of the Single Scheme are as follows: Pensionable Age The Scheme s minimum pension age will be linked to the State Pension age (66 years initially, rising to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028). Retirement Age Scheme members must retire at the age of 70. Pension Abatement If the appointee was previously employed in the Civil Service or in the Public Service please note that the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 includes a provision which extends abatement of pension for all Civil and Public Servants who are re-employed where a Public Service pension is in payment. This provision to apply abatement across the wider public service came into effect on 1 November 2012. This may have pension implications for any person appointed to this position who is currently in receipt of a Civil or Public Service pension or has a preserved Civil or Public Service pension which will come into payment during his/her employment in this position. If the appointee was previously employed in the Civil Service and awarded a pension under voluntary early retirement arrangements (other than the Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement (ISER), the Department of Health Circular 7/2010 VER/VRS or the Department of Environment, Community & Local Government (Circular letter LG(P) 06/2013) which, as indicated above, renders a person ineligible for the competition) the entitlement to that pension will cease with effect from the date of reappointment. Special arrangements will, however be made for the reckoning of previous service given by the appointee for the purpose of any future superannuation award for which the appointee may be eligible. Important Notice The above represents the principal conditions of service and is not intended to be the comprehensive list of all terms and conditions of employment which will be set out in the employment contract to be agreed with the successful candidate. 10
Department of Education and Skills Early Retirement Scheme for Teachers Circular 102/2007 The Department of Education and Skills introduced an Early Retirement Scheme for Teachers. It is a condition of the Early Retirement Scheme that with the exception of the situations set out in paragraphs 10.2 and 10.3 of the relevant circular, and with those exceptions only, if a teacher accepts early retirement under Strands 1, 2 or 3 of this scheme and is subsequently employed in any capacity in any area of the public sector, payment of pension to that person under the scheme will immediately cease. Pension payments will, however, be resumed on the ceasing of such employment or on the person s 60th birthday, whichever is the later, but on resumption, the pension will be based on the person s actual reckonable service as a teacher (i.e. the added years previously granted will not be taken into account in the calculation of the pension payment). Ill-Health Retirement For an individual who has retired from a Civil/Public Service body on the grounds of ill-health his/her pension from that employment may be subject to review in accordance with the rules of ill-health retirement within the pension scheme of that employment. Prior Public Servants While the default pension terms, as set out in the preceding paragraphs, consist of Single Scheme membership, this may not apply to certain appointees. Full details of the conditions governing whether or not a public servant is a Single Scheme member are given in the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012. However the key exception case (in the context of this competition and generally) is that a successful candidate who has worked in a pensionable (non-single scheme terms) capacity in the public service within 26 weeks of taking up appointment, would in general not become a member of the Single Scheme. In this case such a candidate would instead be offered membership of the pension scheme for non-established civil servants ( Non-Established State Employee Scheme ). This would mean that the abatement as detailed in section titled Pension Abatement above would apply, and in addition there are implications in respect of pension accrual as outlined below. Pension-Accrual Appointees who were previously employed in the Civil Service or in the Public Service should note that the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 became law on 28 July 2012. Since that date the Act imposes a 40-year limit on the total service which can be counted towards pension where a person has been a member of more than one existing public service pension scheme. This may have implications for any appointee who has acquired pension rights in a previous Public Service employment. Pension-related Deduction This appointment is subject to the pension-related deduction in accordance with the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. For further information in relation to pensions please see the following website: http://www.per.gov.ie/pensions. 11
Secrecy, confidentiality and standards of behaviour Official Secrecy and Integrity 15. An officer will, during the term of his/her appointment, be subject to the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1963, as amended by the Freedom of Information Acts, 1997 and 2003. He/she will agree not to disclose to third parties any confidential information especially that with commercial potential either during or subsequent to the period of employment. Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour 16. An officer will be subject to the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour. Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995 17. The Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995, will apply, where appropriate, to these employments. Officer of Statistics 18. On appointment, an officer will become an Officer of Statistics under the Statistics Act, 1993, and will be required to sign an undertaking not to divulge any information obtained in the course of his/her duties to any unauthorised person or body. Authorisation Card 19. All officers will be supplied with an authorisation card (ID card) certifying their appointment. This card must be carried at all times while on duty and must be shown on demand. Prior Approval of Publications 20. All officers will agree not to publish in any format, including blogs and other social media, material related to their official duties without prior approval by the Director General of the Central Statistics Office. Political Activity 21. During the term of their employment all officers will be subject to the rules governing civil servants and politics. This includes a prohibition on political canvassing. Personnel Code 22. All circulars are available on the website www.circulars.gov.ie or from the Human Resource Management Section. 12
Census of Population Documentation and Equipment 23. All documentation, equipment, etc. issued to an officer by the Central Statistics Office for the purposes his/her work on the census will remain the property of the Central Statistics Office. S/he will be obliged to take good care of all such property and observe all conditions, which the Central Statistics Office imposes in relation to the use and care of such property. On termination of his/her employment or completion of his/her duties, s/he will be required to return all such property to the Central Statistics Office. All officers will be required to abide by the CSO s ICT Acceptable Use Policy. No Further Entitlements 24. Engagement under this contract does not confer any entitlements to engagement on subsequent surveys and does not represent any undertaking by the Central Statistics Office to the re-engagement of a person appointed for the 2016 census. 13
The Selection Procedure The Competition The selection process will comprise of a competitive interview conducted by the CSO. The onus is on all candidates to make themselves available for interview (if requested) on the date/time specified by the Central Statistics Office. Any expense incurred in attending for interview and, if successful, in subsequently taking up employment must be borne by the candidate. Panel A panel of successful candidates for each position will be created following this competition from which the required compliment of officers may be drawn. Successful candidates will be appointed from these panels according to their panel placing and geographical location. An offer of a contract to work as a Census Enumerator with the 2016 Census of Population will not guarantee a similar subsequent offer. The panel will remain in place for the duration of the census. However, the CSO reserves the right to complement or terminate the panel at any time. Code of Practice The Central Statistics Office is committed to principles of good recruiting practice. The recruitment and selection process for appointment to these positions will be conducted in accordance with the Code of Practice titled Code of Practice for Appointment to Positions in the Civil Service and Public Service, (No.01/07) published by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). Obligations placed on Candidates Candidates should note that canvassing will disqualify and will result in their exclusion from the process. Candidates must not: knowingly or recklessly provide false information canvas any person with or without inducements impersonate a candidate at any stage of the process interfere with or compromise the process in any way Any person who contravenes the above provisions or who assists another person in contravening the above provisions is guilty of an offence. A person who is found guilty of an offence is liable to a fine and/or imprisonment. In addition, where a person found guilty of an offence was or is a candidate at a recruitment process, then: where he/she has not been appointed to a post, he/she will be disqualified as a candidate; and where he/she has been appointed subsequent to the recruitment process in question, he/she shall forfeit that appointment. 14
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